Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative
ADA 2023 Scientific Sessions
MTMVI puts the spotlight on Diabetic Retinal Disease
From June 23-26, scientists and healthcare professionals will gather in San Diego for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 83rd Scientific Sessions, one of the largest conferences of diabetes researchers in the world.
Staff and scientists from the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTMVI) will also be there to present the initiative’s goals and approach to ending Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD). This session which is themed around Acute and Chronic Complications of diabetes, will be held on Sunday, June 25th. Join us in room 25 for Session AC-1.5-SY15 if you’re in attendance!
Here’s the session agenda:
Creating a World without Visual Loss from Diabetes
Sunday, June 25, 2023
4:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m. The Goal of Eliminating Blindness from Diabetic Retinal Disease
S. Robert Levine, MD
4:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m. The Importance of Studying the Human Retinal Disease
Patrice E. Fort, MS, PhD
5:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Structure-Function Connections in Human Diabetic Retinal Disease
Stela Vujosevic, MD, PhD
5:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Designing Clinical Trials Based on Advanced Understanding of Diabetic Retinal Disease
Jennifer Sun, MO, MPH
5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Question and Discussion Period
Image of San Diego Convention Center courtesy of Port of San Diego
Fall 2022 Workshop
In October 2022, a landmark workshop held in Ann Arbor included over 90 attendees, representing diverse backgrounds from around the globe. Participants included patients and representatives from leading biopharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, JDRF, the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association, the US Food and Drug Administration, and other key stakeholders. Researchers and clinicians from the United States, Europe, Japan, Singapore, and Australia gathered to discuss various methods for improving the diagnosis of Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD), with an emphasis on visual function and the importance of listening to patient voices.
Establishing biomarkers and clinical endpoints for DRD is a critical component of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative’s efforts. Our goal is to develop new methods for early diagnosis, assess disease severity and risk, and predict the rate of progression and response to therapy.
The workshop identified knowledge gaps in the field and the participants will continue to work in a public-private consortium to develop new endpoints for research and clinical care of patients with this condition – all to serve the overarching purpose of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative — to accelerate the development of new methods to preserve and restore vision and create a world without vision loss from diabetes.
Our Agenda:
Visual Function Measurements in Eyes with Diabetic Retinopathy: An Expert Opinion on Available Measures
Ophthalmology Science (April 2024) published the Visual Function Working Group of the DRD Staging System Update, a project of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative, titled: “Visual Function Measurements in Eyes with Diabetic Retinopathy: An Expert Opinion on Available Measures.” An in-depth review that explores how to best measure visual function in people with diabetes and diabetic retinal disease. Authors included working group leaders Adam R. Glassman, MS and Mohamed Ashraf Elmasry, MD PhD FRCOphth, and members: Darrell E. Baskin, MD, Mitchell Brigell, PhD, Victor Chong, MD, Quentin Davis, PhD, Luis Lesmes, PhD, Leonard A. Levin, MD, PhD, Ted Maddess, PhD, FNAI, Laura J. Taylor, BSc(Hons), Andreas Wenzel, PhD.
Experts Stress Importance of Eye Health in Patients with Diabetes
The stories shared by JDRF staffers this month about their experiences with diabetic eye disease are sobering reminders that individuals with diabetes are at a lifelong risk of vision loss. This holds true despite recent advances in treatment and improvements in doctor and patient education. Currently, the best way to prevent vision threatening diabetic retinal disease is by controlling factors such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. We also emphasize the importance of routine dilated eye examinations performed at least annually. Nonetheless, we see patients on a weekly basis who, despite decades of careful monitoring of their blood sugars, a healthy diet, and routine exercise, develop advanced retinal complications like the ones described by Arielle, Grace, Liz, and Nate. Given the rising numbers of patients with T1D worldwide and the enormous burden that diabetic eye complications place on patients and their families, there is a tremendous unmet need for newer, more effective therapies and prevention strategies for diabetic eye disease.
The Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision) is an international collaboration led by Dr. S. Robert Levine and inspired by his wife, the actress Mary Tyler Moore, who worked tirelessly to advocate for patients with T1D and who envisioned a world without vision loss from diabetes. The mission of MTM Vision is to acceleratethe development of new methods to preserve and restore vision in people with diabetes. This will be accomplished through major efforts already underway that include a redesign of the system used to describe the progression of diabetic eye disease, a biobank for eye tissue and fluid from deceased donors , and a collaboration between industry partners and researchers to develop new ways to measure visual function in the diabetic eye. Tools from these initial efforts will be used to improve the research and development process for new interventions that can help us preserve excellent vision in all eyes of people with T1D, and restore it in people who already have significant visual loss. As doctors and scientists, we recognize the importance of addressing the worldwide epidemic of diabetes and associated vision loss by developing therapies and preventions that effectively address early-stage disease even before vision is affected. As humans, we are motivated by the people we have known and loved who have suffered irreversible vision loss from diabetes. MTM Vision has gathered an internationally renowned group of physicians, scientists, and major industry groups to work together in solving this challenge. We are committed to keeping the patient voice front and center in this endeavor. Our purpose is to ensure that people with diabetes can live joyful and independent lives free from the fear and suffering of vision loss.
Jennifer Sun, MD, MPH is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Chief of the Center for Eye Research and Trials at the Beetham Eye Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Scientific Co-director of MTM Vision.
Thomas Gardner, MD, MS is Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Michigan and Scientific Co-director of MTM Vision.
Being Mary Tyler Moore Ann Arbor Screening
On May 6, 2023, Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative partners Caswell Diabetes Institute and Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, hosted a special screening of Being Mary Tyler Moore at the historic Michigan Theatre.
Cleveland Film Festival Screening
On Tuesday, March 28th we had a screening that was very well attended (packed!). We are so moved by the outpouring of support from our friends and fans in Ohio.
Vision Research Funding Partnership Event
Dr. S. Robert Levine Presents Latest Progress
Washington D.C. was abuzz with over 30 organizations convening to discuss the theme of “The Research Pipeline – From Premise to Patient.”
Led by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), the event’s aim was to increase collaboration and maximize the impact of research funding for sight-threatening diseases.
Dr. S. Robert Levine presented a brief on the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative and the biorepository.
Learn more about the event at RPB here: https://www.rpbusa.org/
JDRF Mary Tyler Moore Award
Congressional Leaders Receive Mary Tyler Moore Award
(Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and Dr. S. Robert Levine presented the inaugural Mary Tyler Moore Award to Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) on March 22, 2023 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes the three lawmakers’ outstanding leadership and commitment to fighting diabetes.
The award highlights the leadership of women who, like Mary, question the status quo, bravely take risks, and drive changes to improve the lives of those living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). As stalwart champions of the T1D community, each award recipient has provided exemplary leadership and has passed legislation that will improve the lives of those living with T1D. These include the Special Diabetes Program (SDP)—which funds $150 million to diabetes research per year—and insulin affordability, including a cap on the price of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare enrollees.
Diagnosed with T1D at the age of 33, Mary Tyler Moore served as international chairman of JDRF from 1984 to 2017. Moore was a vocal advocate for people with diabetes, and she used her platform to raise awareness of the disease and its challenges. She used her fame and influence to bring government, scientists, and people living with diabetes together to advance T1D advocacy and innovation.
“Thanks to the enduring efforts of Mary Tyler Moore, we are bringing new treatments forward and moving closer every day to cures for type 1 diabetes and its complications,” said Cynthia Rice, JDRF’s chief mission strategy officer. “Senators Collins and Shaheen and Rep. DeGette have been steadfast allies in Congress to the T1D community. JDRF is proud to recognize their work as they carry Mary Tyler Moore’s legacy forward.”
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